Indexing and lock mechanism



Nov. 28, 1950 o, H, PEARSON 2,531,890

INDEXING AND LOCK MECHANISM Original Filed April 2, 1945 ATTORNEY Patented Nov. 28, 1950 UNITED STATES ENT OFFICE 2,531,890 INDEXING AND LOCK MECHANISM Otto H. Pearson, Salt Lake City, Utah, assignor to Louis N. Strike, Salt Lake City, Utah 2 Claims.

This application relates to shirt pressing machines and deals more particularly with a mechanism for indexing and locking rotatable means embodying a pair of bucks. This application is a division of my co-pending application entitled Shirt Pressing Machine, Serial Number 586,053, and filed April 2, 1945.

The machine disclosed in the co-pending application is provided with two bucks mounted on a revoluble column, one on either side thereof,

for alternate positioning of said bucks with rela-.

tion to a pressing head, whereby the bosom or front portion of a shirt draped over each buck is pressed between said pressing head and the shirt draped buck. Steam for the pressing operation is admitted to the bucks through said column and to the pressing head. 7

The present invention has for its primary object to provide improved means for positioning the bucks alternately for pressing engagement with the pressing head, for locking the buck carrying means in said position of a buck, and to initiate movement of the pressing head toward the buck.

Another object of the invention is to provide rotary means of the character indicated which is self-locking upon attaining a desired position and which is adapted to be released by independently operated means.

Another object of the invention is to provide rotatable means which is adapted to be locked by a toggled operated mechanism controlled by a member on the rotatable means.

A further object of the invention is to provide, in means of the character indicated, improved anti-friction support means for a rotary buck carrying member.

My invention also has for its objects to provide such means that are positive in operation, convenient in use, easily installed in, a working position and easily disconnected therefrom, economical of manufacture, relatively simple, and of general superiority and serviceability.

The invention also comprises novel details of construction and novel combinations and ar- 7 extending through the plate.

rangements of parts, which will more fully ap- Fig. 3 is an enlarged cross-sectional view as taken on the line 3-3 of Fig. 1.

The indexing and locking mechanism shown in the drawing comprises, generally, a machine frame 5, a fixed support base 13 mounted on the frame, a rotary base i on the fixed base, means 8 for locking the bases together, toggle means 9 for operating the locking means 8, means I!) on the rotary base I for actuating the toggle means 9, means ll controlled by movement of the toggle means to initiate movement of a pressing head, and means l2 for moving the locking means 8 to non-locking position.

As shown, the machine frame 5 consists of a pair of side frame members l5 suitably spaced to support the fixed base 6 thereon and to contain the means 8, 9, II and I2 therebetween.

The base 6 is shown as a generally circular plate l6 of suitable strength to support the means 1. As contemplated, the base plate It is provided with an eccentrically placed hole or passage l! which is formed in a guide bushing I 8 Centrally, the plate fixedly mounts an upwardly extending hollow member l9 to which is connected a pipe 20 whereby steam for pressing purposes is admitted to said member l9. The top surface of the plate I6 is formed with a raceway near its peripheral edge for a plurality of bearing balls 21.

The rotary base 1 comprises a grooved pulley 22 and a plate 23 secured thereto, both being centrally and axially aligned with the base plate H5. The plate 23 is also formed with a raceway for said bearing balls 2!, the latter supporting the base 1 for free rotation with respect to the base plate It. A hollow column 24 is fixed to the,

pulley 22 to extend upwardly therefrom around the fixed hollow member i9 and to receive steam from the pipe 26. Although not shown, the column 24 carries a pair of diametrally opposed bucks disclosed in the mentioned co-pending application, said bucks receiving steam from the column. A suitably driven belt 25 engaged in the groove of pulley 22, rotates the base i in the direction of the arrow 26.

The means 8 comprises a locking pin 21 having a conical upper end and guided for vertical movement in the bushing l8, and a bar 28 pivotally connected at 29 to the lower end of the pin 2i. The lower end of the bar 28 carries a plate so pressed by a spring 3|.

The toggle means 9 includes an arm 32 pivotally mounted at 33 on bracket ears 34 of a plate 35. The latter is secured to the under face of the base plate It and is provided with a sec-- ond pair of bracket cars 36 for a rotatable pin 31 having a transverse passage therethrough. A

' toggle link 38 extends through said passage and pivotally connects at 39 to one end of the arm 32. A compression toggle spring 4!! is arranged about the link 38 and has end abutment with the pin 31 and a, shoulder 4| on said link. A pivot connecting pin 42- extends through the arm 32 and the locking pin 21 in such a manner that the latter is held depressed when the toggle 9 is in the full line position of Fig. 1 and is raised into one of a pair of recesses 43 in the pulley 22. Said recesses are diametrally placed so that said locking pin engages one of them for each one-half rotation of the base 1.

The means l comprises a pair of diametrally positioned cam lugs 44 on the base 1 and suitably oriented with respect to the recesses 43. A roller 45 is carried by the arm 32 of the toggle means 9 in the path of? movement of the cam lugs 44 so that the. latter, as seen in Fig. 2,. engages the roller topress the same outwardly with a resultant breaking of the toggle between the arm 32 and link 38 and thereby causing the lock ing pin 2'! to be raised against the under surface of plate 23 and to, subsequently, fall into one of the recesses 43 and effect firm lockingof the bases Band 1.

The means H comprises a valve Miearried by an extension 4'! of one bracket ear 34, and a valve operating pin 48 cushioned by a spring 49 carried for movement in. a guide boss 58] on an extension SI of the toggle arm 32 Outwardmovement of the roller 45, as mentioned, will move the pinv 48 to engage and press a rod 52- and a piston 53- onthe latter to open an air line 54 employed for effecting movement of the mentioned pressing head toward a buck aligned therewith.

The means I2 is more fullydisclosed in the; co-pending application. In: the. drawing, said; means is merely shown as' an. arm 55 f-ulcrumed. at 56.- on the frame sides i and bifurcated at itsouter end 51 to engage along either side ofthe bar 28. A transverse'pin 58 carried by the bifurcation holds said bar captive; Th means: i2 is: normally in the-full. line posit-ion; permittingthetoggle means 9 to raise the locking pin: 2:], thespring; 31: yielding; to the force of: the toggle'sprin'g; 40. When release or'depressioir of the pin 21 is: desired, suitable means moves thearm: 5543013118 dot-dash lineposition to withdraw the. pin and thereby release therbase 1- for rotation;.

In. operation, withthe basal normally locked and: holding thementioned buck stationary so that agarment on one is being pressed and: a garment-isbeing; placed. on the: other, the means 12 is then actuated to-withdraw the pin 2?. The base, I- is then free to be rotated;,as; indicated; by" thebelt 25; The means- I2 is then'restoreditothe" fulllineposition; end of a half rotation of the base is-aappro'ached, encounters the roller 45 and actuates. the toggle" means? 9: to-raise.the pin 2T into the recess 4:32am-- sociated with the latter cam lug The. base i is held stationary and the. belt slips in: thegrooveof the pulley; 'Ehe: pressing operation 01130118 buck and the garment donning. operation on: then other iseffected;d'uringthe stationary period of base T.

The means I2 is: them again moved to: withdraw thm locking pin: 27! fin continued? rotation of the base I in the same directionito bring: the pressed garment to the operatoit and? thenewly donned garment topressingzposition. The operation continues. as-:described.

While, I. have: illustrated and? described: what I now regard as thepreferred embodiment of? my invention, the: constructiomis, of course subject tdmodifications withoutideparting fromthe spirit Oneof thel'cam lugs 44, as the:

and scope of my invention. I, therefore, do not wish to restrict myself to the particular form of construction illustrated and described, but desire to avail myself of all modifications that may fall within the scope of the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

l. Indexing and locking mechanism comprising a fixed base having a guide passage therethrough, a rotary base mounted on and concentrio with the fixed base and having a pair of diametrally opposed seats for alternate alignment with said guide passage, a locking member in the guide passage, a pair of spaced brackets depending from the fixed base and radially arranged with respect to the axis of rotation of the rotary base, an over-center toggle extending between and. carried by said brackets and including a lever connected to the locking member, aroller carried by one end of said lever, said toggle, in one position thereof, holding said locking member withdrawn from engagement with the seats ofthe rotary base and also holding said roller in close proximity to the peripheral edge of said rotary base, and a pair of diametrally opposite cam lugs on the periphery of said rotary base and oriented with the seats therein to alternately engage said roller and move the lever thereof to break the toggle and project the locking. member into said seats alternately.

2. Indexing and locking mechanism comprising a fixed base having a guide passage therethrough, a rotary base mounted on and concentric with the fixed base and having a pair of dia metrally opposed seats for alternate: alignment with said guide passage, a locking member in the guide passage, a pair of spaced brackets-depend ing. from the fixed base and radially arranged with respect to the axis of rotation" of th rotary base, an over-center toggle extending between and carried by said brackets and including alever connected to' the locking member, a roller carried by one end ofsaid lever, said toggle, in one position thereof, holding. said locking member withdrawn from engagement with the-seats of the rotary base and also holding said roller in close proximity to the' peripheral edge of said rotary base, a pair ofi diametrally opposite cam lugs on theperiphery of said rotary base and oriented with the seats therein to alternately" engage saidroller and move the lever thereof to break the toggle and project the locking member into said seats alternately, a' bar pivotally connected to-anddepending from the locking member, a resilient- 1y mounted plate on the lower end of said bar, anda bifurcated'actuator through which said bar extends and movable to engage'said plate to effect withdrawal of the locking member and re-' turn of the roller to-proximity with t-he'periphery of the rotary-base; V V GTTO H. PEARSON;

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS 

